PORK SKINS RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Peel and finely chop the onions, then sweat in a frying pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper for 10 minutes, or until soft but not coloured, stirring often.
  2. Pick and finely chop the herb leaves and stir into the pan, with the chilli flakes for a bit of warmth (if using).
  3. Trim off the crusts then tear the bread into a bowl and soak it in the milk and 150ml of water for a couple of minutes so it gets really soft. Squeeze between your hands to get rid of the excess liquid, then transfer to a separate bowl.
  4. Tip in the soft onions and mix together – the bread will cool the onions down quickly.
  5. Once completely cool, add the sausagemeat or squeeze the meat out of the chipolata skins into the bowl and use clean hands to scrunch it all together. This is your base stuffing mix and it’s delicious!
  6. Or, you can embellish it with one or a combination of the ideas: 1 small handful of chopped dried fruit, such as cranberries, raisins, dates, dried apricots; 1 splash of sherry or sweet wine; 1 handful of pine nuts or chopped mixed nuts; the finely grated zest of 1 clementine or 1 small orange; a good grating of nutmeg.
  7. Rub the inside of a baking dish (20cm x 30cm) with butter.
  8. Reserve one handful (roughly 200g) of stuffing for your turkey, then push the rest into the dish, spreading it out fairly evenly.
  9. Use any extra herbs, nuts and dried fruits you have to decorate the top, pushing them in with your fingers. Drizzle with a little oil to help it crisp up, then pop in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
  10. Bake at 180°C/350°F/gas 4 at the bottom of the oven so you get a really crispy base, for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.

Steps:

• Lightly crush the fennel seeds with the leaves from the thyme and the garlic in a pestle and mortar. Add 1 tbsp oil and plenty of salt and pepper, then bash to a rough paste. Rub all over the pork, then cover and chill for up to 24 hrs, if you have time (2 hrs if not).
• Set your slow cooker to a low heat. Pour a kettleful of boiling water over the shallots, then set aside for 2 mins until cool enough to handle – this will make them easier to peel. Cut off the root and remove the papery skins. Heat the remaining oil in a large casserole or frying pan large enough to fit the pork. Brown the shallots for a few mins then tip into the slow cooker. Add the celeriac and apples, season well and give them a mix.
• Brown the pork in the same pan, on all sides, not forgetting the ends. Sit on top of the veg and apples, fat-side up, nestling the joint in a little so you can fit the lid on. Pour the wine into the frying pan and bubble for a minute, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any tasty bits. Pour in the stock, honey and mustard, bubble for another min, then pour over the pork. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 5-6 hrs (depending on slow cooker size), turning the pork and stirring the veg halfway through cooking.
• Remove the pork, wrap in foil and leave to rest for 10 mins before carving to serve alongside the veg with roast potatoes and greens.